• The government has spent Rs.2,338 million on printing textbooks, including those books which have been given to the children

 By Chaturanga Samarawickrama

There is a delay in printing school textbooks due to the shortage of paper and other related accessories, Educational Publications Department Commissioner General P.N.Ilaperuma said.

He told the Daily Mirror that there is also a delay in the distribution of printed text books to schools due to the current fuel crisis in the country.

“The present power interruption has made a significant impact on textbook printing.” Printing of textbooks in the days before the COVID-19 pandemic was not an issue.
 “Several sections of the state printing corporation and private printers have closed due to COVID pandemic. Therefore, the completion of the projects was delayed. However, 45% of the school textbooks were printed at the state Printing Corporation, he said.

 Some 38 million textbooks are to be distributed among the schoolchildren in the country. He stated that 32.5 million textbooks would be printed this year.

 The government has spent Rs.2,338 million on printing textbooks, including those books which have been given to the children.Textbooks were distributed to provincial book stores and directly to several schools for a total of 34.8 million (91.8%). There are 31.6 million (97%) textbooks to be printed.  However, the Publications Department is to print the remaining textbooks before the next school term begins.
 He requested the printers to provide the textbooks before March 31.